Charles Rennie Mackintosh began designing the Glasgow School of Art building in 1897. He was only 29 and a junior assistant at the partnership of Honeyman and Keppie which had beaten 11 other firms in winning the commission. Despite his relative inexperience Mackintosh was entrusted with the project and produced a design which was both striking and original. The building combines the heavy masses of stone of Scottish traditional, baronial architecture with art nouveau motifs in the detailing and contemporary materials and techniques such as large, braced windows. The interior designs were the product of close collaboration with Margaret Macdonald. This particular model depicts a detail which includes the front entrance and left-hand bay from the original construction dating from 1899. Various devices were repeatedly used by Mackintosh in the building, among them Japanese shield designs on the front fence and projecting ladder spikes from which the window cleaners worked. The building is meticulously detailed, as is the model. This is one of a series of fine Architectural models made by world-renowned artist, Timothy Richards. These models are made with plaster and other traditional construction materials including lead, acid-etched brass, glass, copper and gold leaf. Each model is individually hand-made in Timothy's studio and workshop in Bath in England.